Some of the archival materials in this collection may be subject to copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Users of these materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they wish to publish.

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excesses of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. The copyright law extends its protection to unpublished works from the moment of creation in a tangible form. Direct your questions concerning copyright to the reference staff.

Received from United States Information Agency, in August 1964 (Acc. 1965-052); in August 1966 (Acc. 1967-010; 1967-011; 1967-012; 1967-013; 1967-014; 1967-015; and 1967-016); and in October 1966 (Acc. 1967-035). Records were microfilmed for deposit in the Kennedy Library under Projects NK-10, NK-10A, and NK-52.

CLASSIFIED ITEMS: Selected folders may contain withdrawal sheets where documents containing national security classified information were removed from this collection. Rolls 11 and 12 of the Voice of America microfilm are closed pending review. All withdrawn documents have been placed under seal and upon request the Kennedy Library will review any material which has been closed for a period of not less than 2 years for the purpose of opening items which no longer require restrictions. Researchers should consult the reference staff to obtain the appropriate form(s).

Opened March 1997.

Finding aid prepared by Stuart Culy. Revised and converted to EAD by Christina Fitzpatrick in November 2017. Note that negative set of microfilm is in cold storage.

Established in 1953 by the U.S. Congress, the United States Information Agency (USIA) is an independent foreign affairs agency within the executive branch of the U.S. government. USIA explains and supports American foreign policy and promotes U.S. national interests through a wide range of overseas information programs. The agency promotes mutual understanding between the United States and other nations by conducting educational and cultural activities. USIA changed its name to International Communication Agency on April 1, 1978. The name changed back to United States Information Agency on August 24, 1982. United States Information Agency is the name of the Agency as a whole; United States Information Service is the name usually applied to individual offices of the USIA; USIS used to be the name of the entire Agency, but was changed in 1948. On Oct. 1, 1999, the agency was abolished and its functions were transferred to Department of State.

This collection contains select files created by the U.S. Information Agency during the Kennedy Administration. Most records date from 1961 to 1964. It is a partial set of records and includes both hard copy (paper) and microfilm. One series of hard copy records consists of memoranda, telegrams, news releases, teletype messages, and condolence mail. It also includes foreign press coverage of President Kennedy's assassination. Eleven series of records on microfilm include reference files of general news stories and documents on President Kennedy, members of the Kennedy family, and government officials in the Kennedy administration; news releases from USIA regional offices in Africa, Canada, Europe, the Far East, Latin America, and the Middle East; photographs and captions related to President Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, other well-known individuals ("personalities") in the early 1960s, and various subjects of significance to the Kennedy administration; the chronological outgoing correspondence files of USIA Director Edward R. Murrow and his staff, including both general files and Congressional files; and records from Voice of America, including scripts of news reports and JFK memorial programming. For a more complete set of USIA records, researchers should contact the National Archives and Records Administration and inquire about Record Group 306 U.S. Information Agency.

This series contains memoranda, telegrams, news releases, field messages, teletype messages, and condolence mail from the files of the U.S. Information Agency. It also includes foreign press coverage of President Kennedy's assassination. These records are on paper (hard copy).

001USIA-001-001Bulletins and news releases, 1962-1964

USIA-001-002Drafts of telegrams: Jacqueline Kennedy to African Chiefs of State, January 1964

USIA-001-003Drafts of telegrams: Jacqueline Kennedy to European Chiefs of State, January 1964

USIA-001-004Drafts of telegrams: Jacqueline Kennedy to Latin American Chiefs of State, January 1964

USIA-001-005Drafts of letters: Jacqueline Kennedy to Chiefs of State, January 1964 (1 of 2 folders)

USIA-001-006Drafts of letters: Jacqueline Kennedy to Chiefs of State, January 1964 (2 of 2 folders)

This series contains microfilmed files of news clippings, press stories, articles, reports, speeches, and other public documents that were created during the administration of John F. Kennedy. This material likely served as background research or ready reference files. The majority of these files pertain to individuals in the Kennedy administration. General news stories about President Kennedy are listed first, followed by files on Kennedy family members and other government officials. At the end of the series are a small number of subject files.

This series contains microfilmed copies of news releases by the USIA Africa regional office. Types of documents include traditional press releases and wireless telegraph messages. Some bear editing marks. The materials in this series are written in English and French.

This series contains microfilmed copies of news releases by the USIA East Europe regional office. Types of documents include traditional press releases and wireless telegraph messages. Some bear editing marks.

This series contains microfilmed copies of news releases by the USIA Far East regional office. Types of documents include traditional press releases and wireless telegraph messages. Some bear editing marks.

This series contains microfilmed copies of news releases by the USIA Latin America regional office. Types of documents include traditional press releases and wireless telegraph messages. Some bear editing marks. The materials in this series are written in English and Spanish.

This series contains microfilmed copies of news releases by the USIA Middle East regional office. Types of documents include traditional press releases and wireless telegraph messages. Some bear editing marks.